eleemosynary - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry:	eleemosynary¹
Part of Speech:	adj
Definition:	charitable; generous to the poor
Etymology:	Latin eleemosyna 'alms'

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
eleemosynary

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Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry:	eleemosynary²
Part of Speech:	adj
Definition:	dependent on charity
Etymology:	Latin eleemosyna 'alms'

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

el·ee·mos·y·nar·y

Audio Help [el-uh-mos-uh-ner-ee, -moz-, el-ee-uh-] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	of or pertaining to alms, charity, or charitable donations; charitable.

2.	derived from or provided by charity.

3.	dependent on or supported by charity: an eleemosynary educational institution.

[Origin: 1610–20; < ML eleémosynārius, equiv. to LL eleémosyn(a) (see alms) + L -ārius -ary

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

el·ee·mos·y·nar·y Audio Help (ěl'ə-mŏs'ə-něr'ē, ěl'ē-ə-) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Of, relating to, or dependent on charity.
Contributed as an act of charity; gratuitous. See Synonyms at benevolent.

[Medieval Latin eleēmosynārius, from Late Latin eleēmosyna, alms; see alms.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
eleemosynary

1620, from M.L. eleemosynarius "pertaining to alms," from L.L. eleemosyna "alms," from Gk. eleemosyne "pity" (see alms).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

eleemosynary
adjective
generous in assistance to the poor; "a benevolent contributor"; "eleemosynary relief"; "philanthropic contributions" [syn: beneficent]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Eleemosynary

Alms\, n. sing. & pl. [OE. almes, almesse, AS. [ae]lmysse, fr. L. eleemosyna, Gr. ? mercy, charity, alms, fr. ? to pity. Cf. Almonry, Eleemosynary.] Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; a gift of charity.

A devout man . . . which gave much alms to the people. --Acts x. 2.

Alms are but the vehicles of prayer. --Dryden.

Tenure by free alms. See Frankalmoign. --Blackstone.

Note: This word alms is singular in its form (almesse), and is sometimes so used; as, "asked an alms." --Acts iii. 3."Received an alms." --Shak. It is now, however, commonly a collective or plural noun. It is much used in composition, as almsgiver, almsgiving, alms bag, alms chest, etc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Eleemosynary

El`ee*mos"y*na*ry\ (?; 277), a. [LL. eleemosynarius, fr. eleemosyna alms, Gr. ? alms. See Alms.]

1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the distribution of charity; as, an eleemosynary corporation.

2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; as, eleemosynary assistance. "Eleemosynary cures." --Boyle.

3. Supported by charity; as, eleemosynary poor.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day Archive - Cite This Source - Share This

eleemosynary

eleemosynary was Word of the Day on August 19, 1999.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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